Barrett won’t blame brutally cold
SAN FRANCISCO — It’s not getting any better for RJ Barrett.
As he continued to battle a cold, his deep shooting slump dragged on Friday night. Barrett hasn’t made any excuses, and has played big minutes despite being ill, but his shot has yet to come around.
In an ugly 111-101 loss to the Warriors at Chase Center, Barrett shot 6-for-19 from the field and is now 17-for-65 over his past four games. He did snap his 3-point drought at 19 by hitting one, but he missed five others and has made only one of his past 23 tries from long distance.
“Sometimes in basketball it happens. No one is perfect,” Barrett said before the game. “Just continue to get in the gym . ... Try to groove your shot. That’s all you can really do.
“If the shot is wide open I’m going to shoot it. I don’t have a conscience that way. I’m comfortable. I work too hard on my game.”
Barrett said he hasn’t felt right all week, and he has even been coughing during games, yet to shake the bug. Still, coach Tom Thibodeau played him major minutes in the first three games of the road trip and is not concerned about the wing’s shooting woes.
“It’s been the same all three years. He started slowly and it’s a steady climb,” the coach said. “I’m very confident in his shooting ability. So, just continue to put the work in, get some easy buckets. His shooting will come along. I’m very confident about that.”
➤ Mitchell Robinson (sprained right knee) missed an eighth straight game, but is getting closer to returning, Thibodeau said. Robinson joined the team Friday and took part in the shootaround.
“He was on the court back in New York and then we just felt like, ‘OK, as he gets closer, then he’ll join us.’ And he did,” Thibodeau said. “So, he feels good and that’s a good thing.”
➤ Cam Reddish left the game in the third quarter with a right groin injury. He fell awkwardly after getting fouled on a drive by Draymond Green. Thibodeau said his status is day to day.
➤ Immanuel Quickley was one of several Knicks who struggled in the loss. He had as many turnovers (three) as he had in his previous seven games. He also missed all five shots he took.